While everyone in Troy mourns the loss of Hector, the Greeks return to their camp (with Hector’s dead body in tow). The Myrmidons (the Greek soldiers who reported directly to Achilles) went with Achilles to properly mourn Patroclus.
A feast is laid out for the Greek soldiers and Agamemnon orders a hot bath to be drawn for the hero, Achilles. But he refuses to bathe until Patroclus is laid to rest.
Everyone heads to bed, except for Achilles. He goes for an emotional Lifetime-movie-esque walk on the beach. He sits to rest and think and stare out at the sea and ends up falling asleep in the sand.
While he is sleeping, he is visited by the ghost of Patroclus (like Ebenezer Scrooge being visited by Marley… and Marley. IYKYK.) Achilles is overjoyed to see his friend again. But the ghost of Patroclus tells him that his death was his destiny and Achilles' destiny will be coming. Patroclus asked if Achilles could please finally give him a proper burial so that his soul may cross over. Pat’s one last request was that their bones be laid together, so when Achilles finally meets his fate, his bones can be buried with Patroclus. (A day late, but Happy Pride to Patroclus and Achilles!) Achilles tries to hug the ghost of Patroclus before he leaves but he cannot, because… you can’t touch a ghost. That’s just common knowledge. C’mon!
The next morning, most of the Greek soldiers help to gather lots of wood on the beach to build a giant funeral pyre for Patroclus. Achilles instructs his men, the Myrmidons, to cut a lock of their hair to lay upon the body. Achilles himself puts a lock of his hair in Pat’s hand. Then he sends away many of the men, keeping only those who were closest with Patroclus. They light the pyre with Pat’s body on top, and several animals and other foodstuffs as a sacrifice to the gods. At first the fire won’t start. Achilles has to pray to the wind gods to help get the fire going. They hear his prayer and the fire starts to blaze.
Achilles yells his goodbye to Patroclus and states that Hector’s body will be eaten by dogs. They won’t though, because Aphrodite and Apollo are watching over Hector’s body and protecting it.
The ashes of Patroclus are collected in a jar and the men create a burial mound for him. Achilles instructs them to build it big enough for his ashes to also fit and tells them that once he is dead, to put his remains next to Patroclus.
Then Achilles announces a series of funeral games! It’s like a weird field day to honor the dead. The games included a chariot race, a boxing match, a foot race, a shot put, and a spear throwing contest. The men compete and Achilles gives out a number of fabulous prizes to the winners of each event. The games lighten the mood in the Greek camp.